System and Method for Promotion of Retail Items and Customer Transactions

Abstract

Disclosed is a retail imaging system comprising: a mobile communication device having an imaging lens, a retailer software application, and a wireless communication module; a support stand configured to secure and support the mobile communication device at a predetermined distance from a retail item; and a retail imaging server in wireless communication with the wireless communication module for receiving a digital retail image file from the mobile communication device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retail imaging system suitable for transmitting a digital image of a selected retail item to a customer, said retail imaging system comprising:
 a graphical user interface for acquiring the digital image, said graphical user interface including a retailer software application and a wireless communication module, said retailer software application functioning to produce a digital retail image file from the digital image;   a support stand configured to secure and support said graphical user interface at a predetermined distance from the retail item when said graphical user interface acquires the digital image of the selected retail item; and   a retail imaging server including a resident retail customer promotional software application, said resident retail customer promotional software application in wireless communication with said retailer software application for receiving said digital retail image file for subsequent transmittal to the customer as the digital image.   
     
     
         2 . The retail imaging system of  claim 1  wherein said graphical user interface further comprises an imaging lens and an image sensor, said imaging lens functioning with said image sensor to acquire the digital image of the selected retail item. 
     
     
         3 . The retail imaging system of  claim 1  wherein said resident retail customer promotional software application further functions to provide said digital retail image file as the digital image in a web page for transmittal to the customer, said web page including retailer information. 
     
     
         4 . The retail imaging system of  claim 1  wherein said support stand comprises an opening provided so as to allow manual placement of the retail item a predetermined distance from said graphical user interface. 
     
     
         5 . The retail imaging system of  claim 1  wherein said support stand comprises a lens window through hole positioned so as to enable said graphical user interface to acquire the digital image of the selected retail item. 
     
     
         6 . The retail imaging system of  claim 1  wherein said retail imaging server comprises a retailer database for storing said digital retail image file. 
     
     
         7 . A retail item imager suitable for obtaining a digital image of a selected retail item, said retail item imager comprising:
 a graphical user interface including an imaging lens, an image sensor, a retailer software application, and a wireless communication module, said imaging lens functioning with said image sensor to acquire a digital image of the selected retail item, said retailer software application functioning to produce a digital retail image file from said digital image, said wireless communication module enabling said graphical user interface to communicate with at least one of the Internet or a cell tower;   a support stand, said support stand including
 a support surface configured to support and retain said graphical user interface; 
 a front leg attached to said support surface; 
 a rear leg attached to said support surface, said rear leg and said front leg defining an opening therebetween, said opening sized and shaped to allow entry of a user hand; 
 at least one light source attached to said support stand; and 
   a retail imaging server in wireless communication with said graphical user interface via said at least one of the Internet or a cell tower for receiving said digital retail image file.   
     
     
         8 . The retail item imager of  claim 7  wherein said support stand further comprises an attachment surface, said at least one light source attached to said attachment surface. 
     
     
         9 . The retail item imager of  claim 7  wherein said support stand further comprises a light diffuser assembly disposed proximate said at least one light source. 
     
     
         10 . The retail item imager of  claim 7  wherein said retailer software application functions to enable said graphical user interface to communicate with said retail imaging server. 
     
     
         11 . The retail item imager of  claim 7  further wherein said front leg and said rear leg each comprise an arcuate configuration whereby said opening is substantially semicircular. 
     
     
         12 . The retail item imager of  claim 7  wherein said support stand further comprises a frame enclosure to aid in positioning said graphical user interface on said support stand. 
     
     
         13 . The retail item imager of  claim 7  wherein said support stand further comprises a close-up lens mounted in a lens holder, said lens holder secured to said support stand at a pivot point for enabling selective positioning of said close-up lens between said graphical user interface and the selected retail item. 
     
     
         14 . A method of a retailer promoting a retail transaction to a customer, said method comprising the steps of:
 acquiring a digital image of a retail item in which the customer has expressed interest;   producing a digital retail image file from said digital image;   providing customer contact information to the retailer;   converting said digital retail image file to a web page with said digital image, said web page further including retailer information; and   transmitting said web page to a computing device accessible by the customer.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  where said step of acquiring said digital image is performed in a retail establishment offering the retail item for sale. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of transmitting said digital retail image file to a retail imaging server for storage in a retailer database. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of converting said digital retail image file into a digital image in a spreadsheet, said spreadsheet for viewing on the display screen of a computing device accessible by the retailer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of acquiring a digital image comprises the step of using a graphical user interface, said graphical user interface including an imaging lens, an image sensor, and a display screen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said step of providing customer contact information comprises the step of entering data in a data entry field in said display screen. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of converting said digital retail image file to a web page with said digital image comprises the step of providing said digital retail image file to a retail customer promotional software application resident in a retail imaging server.